Quote:
Originally Posted by DropIt
They should not have won the game in Soldier Field. They took 18 penalties, but most of them holding calls because of Peppers' and Briggs' rush on blitzes, false starts due to home field advantage and idiotic offensive line plays, and the occasional pass interference when Hester would blow by a safety and get pulled down. Penalties are not someting to blame a game on, especially when your team is close to getting 20 called on them
Green Bay has a great defense, as i have previously stated. But I think the Bears' is still superior.
While you mention that the Packers have more interceptions (+3) you fail to mention that the bears have more Forced Fumbles/Recoveries (+8) which had them tied for 3rd overall in turnovers for a defense. A fairly common occurance for the team as they have the most defensive forced turnovers in the NFL since Lovie Smith started coaching the team.
The Bears also have the more proven personal when it comes to comparing defenses. As Urlacher and Briggs have been among the two best linebackers at their positions since playing for the Bears and that continues to show true. While Clay Mathews is having an outstanding year, I wouldnt say that he is head and shoulders better then Julius Peppers, minus the sack differential.
While Woodson still may be the best cornerback in the game, which at his age is very impressive. I would say the Bears secondary is as good as the Packers if you take more than just interceptions into account. Interceptions, balls batted (defensed) and tackles all have a large part in a defense as a whole and Chicago is one of if not the best open field tackling team in the NFL, especially when it comes to secondary players.
The Pack have great statistical numbers, being top 5 in all defensive categories but one (rushing) which led to GB facing many more rush attempts per game and all season long. While the Bears, who ranked 2nd in rushing stats all season faced more pass attempts by opponents than GB did... and I am sure I dont have to tell you which play averages more yards between a pass and a run.
Yes, The Green Bay Packers did have a more difficult schedule,
so we had a 2 game difference, where yes you played ATL where we played CAR. Otherwise we played SEA where you played SF... the difference is sheduling really isnt that much and it seems to be a pretty big stretch when you put into perspective that you only had 1 harder week then we did..... Although, that one harder week against ATL was 1 game removed from after a bye week, where our easiest game against CAR was 3 weeks before our bye....
|
18 penalties is a franchise record, of that total 7 were for holding or false start. This is a franchise that has been around for 92 years. The other thing in that game is Crosby missed a 37 yd FG or the game would have gone to OT. But no matter about all that, the Bears won the Packers didnt.
As for the Strength of Schedule. It wasnt even close according to the NFL Its not just about common opponents its where you play them that comes into it.
GB had the 4th hardest sched in the NFC, the Bears were 12th.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/standings/_/t...ule/order/true
When you add in the injuries to that, what the Packers have done on defense this season is simply remarkable.
Again though, none of this matters. Two teams that know each other well and there will be few surprises and i expect a close one. I just hope the weather isn't a huge factor. Cold and snow is fine, but if it's really windy it will not allow either team to play as well as they can.